The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1887-05-04
THE CONVENTION TO-DAY.

many parts of the State have come
to compose the True Blue Con-
vention, now in session. The
complexion of the precinct and
county mass(?) meetings which
selected these delegates have been
as varied as is possible to imagine.
The convention was called by
prominent anti-prohibition Demo-
Gratis, addressed to Democrats, for
the declared purposes of setting
forth "the time-honored principles
of the Democratic party from JEFF
ferson down to the present time,
etc. and to oppose prohibition.
The precinct and county meetings
which selected delegates for this
State convention were, as rule,
a conglomerated mass of Demo-
Gratis, Republicans and whisky
dealers, and yet they propose to
teach Texans true-bluc dcmoc-
racy.
Be it said to the credit of such
Democratic statesmen as Coke,
Clark, Ross and Grain, who,
though they oppose prohibition,
they are equally as much opposed
to the effort to make the campaign
one of party politics, and have ex-
pressed their opposition to any
measure by this convention which
would tend to read out of the
Democratic party those fellow
Democrats who see fit to differ
with them on this purely non
partizan question. The San An
tonic Express, n representative Of
the extremists, thus expresses a
sentiment common, among those
who, choosing between two Qo
them) evils, would wreck the Dem
ocratic party rather than abolish
the whisky traffic:
1.-THE delegates have .lbeen. Sc
lected by those who are distinct
lively and pronounced anti-prohi-
bition, but the convention should
go further than that. 1t will be u
Democratic convention assembled
under favorable circumstances for
laying down some Democratic law
by renewal of declaration, and
with prescribed qualifications for
those who acknowledge fealty to
the Democratic party, and espe-
cially those who claim or ask, as
Democrats, personal or individual
preference at its hands"
The Express is not alone in this,
but the Newses are very conspicu-
Gus among the papers which advo-
cate a party fight, that is, a de-
claration that no true Democrat
can or will vote for the amend
ment, and those who dare to doit
shall be cut off from any further
enjoyment of the "honors and
emoluments" of democracy.
There are few, very few prohi-
bition Democrats who do not de-
sire to have the campaign made on
the merits of prohibition, as, it is
purely IA non-partisan question
whisky traffic or no whisky traffic;
and they have so repeatedly de-,
clared through the press and on
the stump. And the Waco con-
vention and State Executive Com
mittce have both officially declared
their purpose TO regard prohibit
ton solely as moral and social
measure. However, though the
prohibition Democrats have been
clear and earnest in this express
sion, the HERALD does not believe
that they would shrink from the
fight or for moment be cowed by
any declaration which the conven-
ton of Democrats, Republicans
and saloon-keepers here to-day
may see fit to make. The ques-
ton is with them. Let them re-
concile their own many differ
ences. If they declare it a Demo-
cratic war on 'fanaticism' they can
not succeed, for Republican votes
are necessary. and taeir declara-
ton will put them on the outside
of the organized Democracy of
Texas, which has in State Conven-
ton put itself on record as OPP
posed to making prohibition a test
of party fealty. If they throw
overheard the Newses, Express,